Air travel with Featherweight - need suggestions
 

I will be traveling from CA to MN for family quilt/craft retreat. I would like to take my FW. I would like a rolling carry on bag or small rolling sewing machine bag to carry FW. Any suggestions and input would be appreciated. Thanks. :)

I have a friend that just carries her's in the case and sticks in the overhead. Means it's her carry on and she has to check her other bags.

I have taken my Bernina from Colorado to New Hampshire. I packed it in the box it came in and checked it, did just fine but that has been several years ago.

I found a small backpack sized bag on wheels. (I actually thought it Was a backpack...but no straps!) It fits under the seat and has been used alot. I also used one of those canvas zipped bags (I think mine was Lands End..but that type) the first time I traveled with mine. It got a bit heavy lugging it that way, but totally would do it again. No brand on the backpack I am afraid. I would buy another one if I could find it! Bonnie had hers taken as it was a small plane and not much fit in the open overhead bins. I use my homemade kits as padding around the machine, putting my rotary cutter, mat and rulers in my checked bag. I don't take my long ruler...just shorter ones or squares.

Costco has a small travel bag that is the perfect size for a FW and fits under the seat. I think Harbor Freight has something similar too.

Cari

Great suggestions, thank you. I'll check out Costco. Small backpack on wheels sounds great also. I usually take a carryon and not check luggage, but I'm thinking I can only carry one bag, so it will have to be my sewing machine.
@soccertxi- good idea to use kits to pad machine. I do plan on doing the cutting at home (make kits). One leg of my flight is on a small plane, I would hope that if it didn't fit under my seat or overhead, they could put it somewhere safe.

After seeing a suggestion on this board for a rolling tool bag at Harbor Freight, I bought it. It works nicely. It has some pockets inside to store my cone of thread, box of bobbins and other stuff. For my machine, a Walmart Brother, it just fits in there but too tall to zip up which is ok for me since I only take it to the church a few blocks away. I don't know the size of your featherweight but check to see if your machine fits and can be zipped up and it is the size allowed on the plane. It was $25.00 at the time but there was a 20% coupon.

I used to travel a lot with my small Janome. I bought asmall carry-on that was just wide enough for it. I did not / do not trust the baggage systemfor the machine.
Be sure to put your large scissors, and rotary cutter (specificallythe blades) in your checked bag.

Enjoy your trip and retreat
Mike

I took a Bernina too to Colorado. I packed it in a rolling bag that would fit in the overhead. They wantd it out to check at security, but otherwise there was no issue.